Photo Gallery Retaliation, Refugees and Phosphorus Bombs

At the beginning of 2009, Israel justified its military operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip as a fair war. But now Israeli soldiers are speaking out about willful destruction -- from the indiscriminate use of phosphorus bombs to the death of Palestinian civilians.
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Israel has claimed that everything was done to protect innocent lives during its recent military operation in the Gaza Strip. But according to statements from Israeli soldiers there were malicious acts of destruction, white phosphorus was used and civilians were deliberately targeted. This picture shows the destroyed house of Hamas leader Nizar Rayan in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

Foto: Getty Images
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The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, seen here in a Dec. 26, 2008 photo, is an important gateway for the transportation of food and supplies. Following rocket attacks on Israeli targets from Palestinian militants, Israel retaliated with Operation Cast Lead, as their military operation was code-named.

Foto: AFP
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According to statements from Israeli soldiers collected by the organisation Breaking the Silence, the Israeli army often broke the rules of combat, leading to the systematic deaths of civilians.

Foto: AP
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Injured children are seen in this Jan. 10 photo. Some Israeli soldiers reported that Palestinian civilians were used as human shields by Israeli troops. However Hamas also partially retreated into heavily populated areas, making it even more difficult to distinguish between militants and civilians.

Foto: REUTERS
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A funeral in the Gaza Strip: Some 1,400 Palestinians lost their lives during the war, most of them civilians.

Foto: AFP
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A Palestinian man is seen with his son at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza in this Jan. 7 photo. The interviewed soldiers said that their superiors hammered it home to them that they should be aggressive in their warfare.

Foto: AP
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Refugees in Gaza City: Up to 900 houses were reportedly destroyed during Operation Cast Lead. Human rights organizations accuse both the Israeli army and Hamas of war crimes.

Foto: AFP
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Siblings among the ruins: "Before the first time we went in," one Israeli veteran recalled, "the battalion commander had us all stand in formation on Friday evening and said: 'We cannot surprise them with our timing, they know when. We cannot surprise them with our location, they know exactly where we're coming in. What we do have...is fire power.'"

Foto: REUTERS
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Palestinians with food supplies from the UN: "In urban warfare, anyone is your enemy," explained one deployed Israeli soldier. "No innocents."

Foto: REUTERS
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The night sky over Gaza: The Israeli army lit up the battlefield with the help of flares.

Foto: AP
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Explosion of an Israeli grenade: The soldiers interviewed by Breaking the Silence confirmed that they also deployed white phosphorus. The chemical falls to the ground like rain and causes severe burns.

Foto: AP
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A UN school in Beit Lahiya in the Gaza Strip: Refugees whose houses had been destroyed sought sanctuary in schools like these -- sometimes to no avail. The Beit Lahiya school was hit by an Israeli air attack on Jan. 17.

Foto: AFP
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Israeli artillery: The firepower that was deployed was "insane," according to one of the interviewed soldiers.

Foto: REUTERS
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Anti-Zionist demonstrators in Jerusalem protest against the war in the Gaza Strip in this Jan. 7 photo. Despite isolated protests, the military operation received widespread support in Israel -- mainly due to anger at continued rocket attacks by militant Palestinians.

Foto: DPA
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A Palestinian woman walks through rubble in Rafah refugee camp in this Jan. 7 photo. Even half a year after the end of the combat, much of the Gaza Strip is still in ruins.

Foto: AP
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A wounded Palestinian child is taken to hospital after an Israeli air strike in this Jan. 1 photo. The Israeli army has so far denied all allegations of its breaking the rules of combat. Some of the soldiers interviewed by Breaking the Silence see the situation differently.

Foto: Getty Images
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A Palestinian family flees from the Zeitoun district of Gaza City on Jan. 11. The war ended with a fragile ceasefire.

Foto: AFP
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In this Jan. 16 photo, a Palestinian man inspects his burnt-out home in Gaza City after it was hit by Israeli tanks.

Foto: Getty Images